Verheul ready to rev it up in Portugal

With only a few months to go, the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals Edenvale racer, Nick Verheul, is looking forward to once again step into the international arena and take on world-class competitors.

Originally set to be held this year the challenge was postponed to January 2021 because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The challenge will see 360 racers from 68 different countries of different age groups descend on Portimão in Portugal for the challenge.

The racers will be the cream of the crop from each country after having battled it out in several rounds of fierce racing for the title of the country’s representative.

This will not be the first time Verheul will represent SA in the grand final since he started racing in the early 2000s. He participated in the finals in 2012, 2016, and 2019.

“During the ’70s my uncle used to race quite a bit so growing up we used to watch motorsports as a family whenever we could.

“As soon as I got my first paycheck I put it towards my first kart and started putting in hours on the track.”

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Verheul said what he enjoys most about the Rotax challenge is that all racers are given the same equipment and karts.

He said all the equipment comes sealed, is tamper-proof to ensure that all racers are given the same opportunity and must use their skills to beat one another.

He said the challenge tries to get away with cheque-book racing and focuses on the skills and talents of the racers.

“The event is seen as the Olympics of karting.”

Looking to the upcoming challenge, Verheul feels confident and says he is in a good space for the upcoming race.

“I’ve been working and training hard. I’ve put in the hours and look forward to competing on the international stage.”

Although the lockdown affected his training, Verheul said he was fortunate to get 4 000 hours of track time racked up so far in preparation for the challenge.

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